Driving-chain.



W. S. MORTON. DRIVING CHAIN. AAPPLIGATIONTIMD 001:.16, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

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'WALTER S. MORTON, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO.

Y DRIVING-CHAIN.

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Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led October 10, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.. Serial No. 653,916.

To all 'whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S.'MoRToN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Chains; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machine elements, and more especially tosprocket chains whereby power is transmitted from one wheel to another;and the object of the same is to improve the construction of such achain and render certain of its links adjustable for the ,purpose oftaking up wear without destroying the flexibility of the chain as awholexThis object is accom plished by constructing the chain ashereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in thedrawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of my improved chain, showingit as engaging a pulley or wheel which is partly broken away; Fig. 2 isan enlarged side elevation of a few links of this chain, one of thembeing in section; Fig. 3 is a similar elevation and section, exceptingthat the chain is viewed in a direction at right angles to that fromwhich the chain in Fig. 2 is viewed; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic viewshowing a power sprocket and a driven sprocket, and illustrating how achain of this improved construction may flex laterally when one of `saidsprockets is turned aside.

ln the drawings the letter P designates a power sprocket and D a drivensprocket each having sockets G within its grooved periphery for engagingthe driving chain by means of which power is communicated from theformer to the latter sprocket; C .designabes thechain as a Whole, L aresolid links of any suitable construction disposed throughout the lengthof said chain and in a single plane with each other, and the linksinterposed between these solid links form the subject matter of myinvention which will now be explained in detail. Each link of improvedconstruction within this chain is formed of two members adjustablyconnected by two bolts, with re movable washers strung upon the bolts between the members, and each member comprises two tubular elementsintegrally con- Said elements have their bores parallel with each otherand standing at right angles to the length of. said yoke, and the lattercon nects what might be called the outer ends of the elements so thateach member of this link is substantially U-shaped in plan view` asperhaps best seen at the center of Fig. 3. The bores through theelements of the lefthand member shown at the left of Fig. 3 are smoothso as to constitute eyes 1, whereas the bores through the elements ofthe right hand member are threaded so as to constitute nuts 4, and theaxis of one nut is alined with the axis of the eye opposite as shown.Between the adjacent inner extremities of the elements referred to, ateach side ofl my improved link, are disposed a number of thin washers 5.Abolt 6 is passed through each leye, through the group of washers, andscrewed through the threads 7 in the nut opposite, and on its projectingextremity against the outer end of this element it preferably engages alock nut 8 to prevent it from unscrewing, its head 9 bearing against theouter extremity of the opposite element containing the eye member asshown. By preference the inner end of the bore of each nut 11 isunthrcaded as shown at 10, although this detail of construction is notnecessary. By preference also the opposite bolt 6 is similarly disposedalthough it is clear that the eye member l and nut member 4e at thisside of the link might be transposed so that the bolt 6 could be in-vserted in the opposite direction without departing from the spiritof myinvention. Also the sizes, proportions, materials and exact details ofconstruction are not neces-l sary hereto, but are described as typicalof the preferred manner in which ymy improved sprocket chain link isconstructed.

In use the ordinary links L are connected up by these improved links byalternating the latter with the former in a manner which will be clearand passing the entirel chain C around the driving sprocket P and thedriven sprocket D as usual, and the disposition of parts may be suchthat the sockets G in said sprockets engage either the links L or myimproved links although by pref erence I cause them to engage theordinary after which the parts are replaced and tightened up, and itwill be clear that the length 0f this link and the distance between itstwo curved` faces, 3, 3 will be reduced by just the thickness of thewashers removed. For this reason the latter should be made quite thin,although it is possible to make each group include a number of thickwashers and a number of thin washers so long as those of either kind inone group are duplicates of those of the same kind in the other group.

Drive chains as a rule are designed with the purpose of Hexing in onlyone direction, as when they pass around the driving and driven pulleysor sprockets, but I have designed this improved chain for use more iespecially in connection with the traction engine on which I am seekingLetters Patent by means of applications bearing Serial Numbers 653,914and 653,915 and tiled this day. In F ig. 4 of the drawings hereto at `ltached are shown diagrammatically the power shaft P and its sprocket andthe axle A and driven sprocket D thereon, forming part of a motorvehicle as described in my companion applications just referred to, andthe power and driven sprockets are connected by a chain C which ofnecessity must flex laterally when the axle A is turned aside as hereinindicated. Of course said chain flexes in an upright plane at all timeswhen p' passing over the two sprockets and the guide pulleys herewithillustrated, but this view is given to show the utility of the roundedfaces 3 which are curved both longitudinally i 4, and laterally.

What is claimed as new is:

1. The herein described drive chain link comprising two members eachconsisting of two tubular elements connected by a yoke,

the bores in the elements of one member being smooth and constitutingeyes and those in the elements of the other member being threaded andconstituting nuts, bolts whose Shanks pass loosely through said eyes andwhose threaded portions engage the nuts and project beyond the elementscontaining the latter, nuts on the projecting ends of the bolts, and aseries of washers interposed between the inner ends of the alinedelements and strung on the bolts.

2. The herein described drive chain link comprising two members eachconsisting of two parallel tubular elements integrally connected attheir outer ends by a yoke having its inner face curved longitudinallyand laterally, the bore of one element being smooth and the openingthrough the element opposite thereto registering with said bore andbeing internally threaded, a bolt whose smooth shank passes looselythrough said smooth bore and whose threaded portion engages saidthreaded opening, a parallel bolt similarly connecting the elements atthe opposite side of the link, and a series of washersstrung on eachbolt.

3. The herein described drive chain link comprising two members eachconsisting of two parallel tubular elements integrally connected attheir outer ends by a yoke having its inner face curved longitudinallyand laterally, the bore of one element being smooth and the openingthrough the element opposite thereto registering with said bore andbeing internally threaded at its outer end and smooth at its inner end,a bolt whose'smooth shank passes loosely through said smooth bore andits threaded end passes through the smooth portion of said opening andengages the threaded portion, a parallel bolt similarly connecting theelements at the opposite side of the link, and a series of washers ofvariable thickness strung on each bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

VALTER S. MORTON. Vitnesses:

LEON F. MILLER, HARRY W. KEENY.

